Rotary gang drill



May 30, 1933. J. w. BROWN, JR 1,911,304

ROTARY GANG DRILL Filed April 30, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 30, 1933. J. w. BROWN, JR

ROTARY GANG DRILL Filed April 30, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 30, 1933. J. w. BROWN, JR 1,911,304

ROTARY GANG DRILL Filed AprilV 30, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 30, 1933- J. w. BROWN. JR

ROTARY GANG DRILL 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 30, 1951 IIIY Z1? 4] A5 4 fj@ i# Y Y# 6 2 3 l5. ,J ,1

May 3o, 1933. w BROWN, JR 1,911,304

ROTARY GANG DRILL Filed April 50. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES vJOHN wILsoN BROWN, JR.. 0F 1PHILA1art1-.211111,-rnNNSYLVANIAyl yRofrnlw GANG' DRILL Appiicamn 111e@ April 3o,`

This invention relates to rotary drilling or cutting machines, and lmore particularly to a machine for simultaneously performing a plurality of operations on a given article;

as for example, drillingl and then reaming the drilled openings of such articles.`

An important object of theinventionis the provision of apparatus of this character in which the articles upon which the operations are to be performed are sopresented to the tools that an operation of one kind is performed upon one of the articles simultaneously with the performance of a second operation on another of the articles. n

A still further object of the invention is theadaptation of an arrangement of this character to that type of rotary drilling machines illustrated in my prior patents in which work-holding devices and the drilling or cutting implementsare simultaneous-1 ly rotated about a common center and arel caused to approach' and recede fromone another to bring the work into engagement `with the tools.` y A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved'ig for use in conjunction with apparatus of t is character. l Y These and otherfobjects I attain by the construction shown in the` accompanying drawings wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein:

Fig. 1`is avertical sectional view through a rotary drilling apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention,` l

Fig. 2 is a partially diagrammatic plan illustrating the distribution of the"tables and drillng or. cutting apparatuses about the carrier; i i

Fig. 4 is a section von line 4 4 of Fig. :3;

Fig. `5 is an enlarged'verticalfsectional'- view through one .of the tables and one of the groups of tools associated therewith;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the workpositioning means; and. Fig. 7 is asectionon line 7-7 of Fig. 5f

Referring lnow more. particularly .tov the 1a31 serial No. 534,042(

drawings, the numeral I10 generally Vdesignates a3 suitable 'stationary standard, and rotatable thereabout'acarrier` 11. Thev standard mounts a cam 12'adjacent its lower end. `Upon's'aid cam arel seated the lowerl ends of the stems 13 of a plurality of work tables 14, the 4cam acting vthrough these stems to'elevat'e the 'work tables andsubsequently lower them "asthe carrier is rotated..v `The upper end of the carrier 11 mounts in 60` alignment with each work table `a spindle 15, the spindles 15 each having, atv theirupper ends driving engagement with a gear Y16 l rotatably supported fromv the'carrier."` The upper end ofthe carrier further mounts a '65 gear 17 which is secured thereto while the. upperend of the standard l0 supportsl driving'mech'anisms for driving the gears' 16 and y 17 at dierent rates of speed with the resultv that the carrier is. rotatedand the spindles 'Il 15 are likewise rotated.' VThe mechanism as generally described hereinbefore is disclosed in prior applications, includingapplication Serial No. 494,432,1iled November 8,1930

for bossedarm drilling 'ma'chine, and 'con` 75` stitutes no `part ofthe present invention, except in combination vwith the structure 1. hereinafter described.v The mounting means 'for the spindles 15 comprises upper" and lower flanges 18l and 80 19 yprojecting horizontally outwardly from the .carrier and preferably forming a part of a removablehead`20` for the carrier. In accordance with thepresent invention I `secure against the lower flange 18 laca'sing'v v21 1857: rfor each. spindle 15,' the upper end of the 'casing-housing the lowerend of the associ-y ated spindle and agear 22 secured thereto. 1 This casing further mountS ,ge-M elements 23 and .24.each including afpartengagingo" gear`22 and a'isecond partengaging gearsV 23-01 and 24-'a associated'therewith. Gears v 23-a and24-w'are secured tochuck spindles 25, the spindles off' gears 23a" in the 'present instance mounting drills 26 and those Yof the "'95 gears 24-a mounting reaming r'and facing Associated with each casing`21 is a pair of L verticallymovable `plates 28, 29, the plate" f28-having guides 80 forthe drills 26 while 100 the table 29 has guides 31 for the reaming and facing toolsv 27. Each plate 28 and 29 is mounted on a pair of guide rods vertically shiftable through the lower flange, one of these guide rods having associated therewith a stop nut 82 adjustable to limit downward movement of the associated plate by engaging the upper surface of ange 18,vr

and a spring 33 or forcing the guide rod those employed: Yn-.a similar location inthe. prior application hereinbefore referred to. The drill guides of the plate 28 preferably include work-positioning elements `34 the construction and function of which Vwill be .hereinafter more fully set forth.

jTo each workl table I secure `a jig 35, this jig comprising a. base 3G secured to the work table and having rotatably mounted ggtherein a shaft 37 having at its lower end a "head or enlargement 38 lying 'within a recess formed in the base, The upper'surface of the head isv provided with a circumferential series of sockets 39 for. co-action with the spring-pressed positioning pin 40. mounted "'win.' the base whereby at selected rotatably spaced'intervals the rotation of the shaft is checked and in an approximate position. The upper surface of the Abase is rabbeted to 301 receive fa plate .41, said plate having at the *gouter face of the base, or that portion thereof which is outwardly disposed as the car-l rier rotates, a notch 42 and at theV inner face of' vthe'bfase pairs of' openings 43 for the spassage of the drills and the reaming elel ments of the reaming and facing tools. The base" at this side thereof has a projecting ledge or flange 44 likewise provided with openings 45 for the passage of the drilling @Jand reaming tools and for the passage of cuttings formed thereby. j

A Seatingupon the upper surface of plate 41 and secured to the upper end of the shaft 87 as at 46 is a plate 47, said plate having 45F 1formed therethrough va series of. openings 48V Jeach of suiiicient size to loosely receive the, article 49 upon which the operations are to rbe 'performed In the present instance this article lis disclosed asthe bearing cap of a 50mconnecting rod' and the opening is accord- *Jinglyzsubstantially rectangular, lhaving at itsends recesses 50 tol receive bosses projecting from the ends :of the connecting rod cap, the'outermost recess 50 being formed' as a mslot "opening through the outer edge of plate Ld47. rlhe outer edge of this plate is formed with Ya series ofprojecting'shoulders 51, these shoulders being at present shown as continuations of ythe trailing Walls of the mnotches. A shoulder 51 `of vthis plate is radial,` or substantially radial tov the carrier whenever the pin 40 is engaged in a depres.Y

sion `39v of hea/d38. An index pin 52 stationary with relation to the standard, 10v and gjpreferabl-y carried by. a shield or guardV 53 downwardly, these parts being similar toA surrounding the lower end of the carrier is arranged to engage the radially-directed shoulder 51 of each plate 47 as the carrier rotates and thus rotate the plate and advance the articles carried thereby one step.

Referring more particularly to F ig. 2 of the drawings, inthe operation ofthe apparatus let it be assumed'that thelcam begins to elevate the tables 14 at the point indicated by the arrow A of F ig. 2, completes its elevation at the point indicated by the arrow B and completes lowering of the tables at the point indicated by the arrow C. The operator station is indicated at 0.8. and an'operator disposed at this station drops an article 49inthe,- pocket 50 which has ,previously been aligned with notch 42 .of plate 41 andv from which, accordingly, the article previously held` and upon which the operations have been com-.p pleted, has fallen, this opening 48 havingbeen. again shifted tooverlie the plate by the index pin 52 immediately after the lowering of the table has causedV the same to` clear the tools. Articles placed in the opens ing 48 are swept over the plate 41by rota-k tion of plate 47 and at each rotational step t of plate 47 a new article is ypresented beneath the drills 26 andan article subsequent# ly drilled is placed beneath the reaming and facing tools 27. As the table rises in response to the cam action, the irst actual en-.

.gagement between the articles vand-fthe drill, Y

ingv mechanism constitutes engagement. of plates 28 and 29 with the articles."v LEngagement of plate28 with the articles isthrough I the positioning device34 hereinbefore res ferred to, such positioning devicesvin :the present instance comprising depending.. fingers arranged in two groups and adapted to co-act with the bossed end portions of the I article and having beveled faces Vengaging such bossed end portions, these beveled faces centering the article sorthat the drills will be accurately positioned vto form openings' at the desiredpoints.

It will bel understood engagement of the plate 28l and positioning ofthe article, the plate Vyields through its spring action and elevatesfwithithe table so that the drills finally engage the article to. formy openings therein.` Plate 29, since the elements thereof' embody reaming tools tofengage in the openings formed by drills. Y

26, needs no accurate positioning device Aforthe articles, the taperingnoses 274@ ofthe reamers performing the positioningV function. In order to prevent chatteringgrof the `article when engaged byl thereamers, hows which engages the plate. After engagement f with 'the lug, plate l29 will, of course, yield against its spring and rise with the table.

The engagement of the plates 28 and 29fwith i the :articles serves not only toA positionthe articles and prevent chattering thereof.. as,` hereinbefore stated, ,but .likewise Vserves to* i withdraw the articles from the drilling and reaming tools when separation of the tables and drilling or cuttingl mechanisms 4begins and-to impart. an initial downward movement to the tables, thus eliminating any tendencyvl of lthe same to stick andl not follow the-camas is otherwise possible. It will, of course, be understood that other types of cutting implements, may be employed than those herein illustrated and .it is to this end `that,`Iprefer that the drilling and cutting mechanisms be detachably secured to the lower face of theflange 18 rather than incorporated in the headfstructure of the ro-.,`

tatablecarrier. Construction in this man- 4ner will permit ready interchangeability of the drilling and cutting mechanisms', thus permitting'the vmachineto' be employed in a wide range of uses.

It will be obvious that if the cutting imypleinents of either set completely perforate arcuate grooves 4l-a having as their centers of curvature the axis of the perforated plate 47, these grooves extending in the direction of rotation of the plate 47 from the openings 43 for passage of the drills 26 to the notch 42. Vith the provision of these grooves any burr formed by the drills in passing through the article will serve to assist in preventing shifting of the article rather than to cause suoli shifting. l

Since the construction illustrated is obviously capable of a certain range of change and modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. In combination, a plurality of sets of rotary cutting implements grouped about and rotatable as sets about a common axis, non-rotatable work supports one for each set of cutting implements and each perma* 'nently aligned with a set rotatable about said axis, each set of cutting implements comprising groups of diiferent'cutting implements means for rotating the sets of cutting implements and their associated tables about said axis, means for rotating the cutting implements of the sets as the sets are rotatedabout said axis and means operating as an incident to rotation ofthe tables about 2. In combination, a set of rotary cutting'.

tools and anV opposed non-rotatable` `work table, means for-bodily rotating the set and worktable about an axis, means for causing the work table to approach and recede from the cutting tools during rotation aboutsaid axis, said set of `cutting tools comprisingl groups of cuttingtools of different charac,-`

teristics and means operating as an incident to rotation of thetable about said axis for shifting work upon the work tableto successively present it to said groups of cutting tools in approximate alignment therewith, and means operating as an incident to approach of the work table` and cutting tools for accurately aligning the work with the cutting tools. v

3. In combination, a rotatable carrier having a flange, a spindle rotatably mounted in the vflange, means for rotating the carrier, means for rotating the spindle, a unit detachably secured to the under surface of the flange, a plurality of rotatablecuttingtools carried by said unit, means providing a driving connection between the 4spindle Vand `the unit and a work table opposing the u nit and approaching and receding therefrom'asthe carrier rotates. Y

4. In combination, a rotatable carrier, a table rotating `with the carrier, means for elevating and lowering the table `as 4the carfL rier rotates, a work support mounted upon ceive articles to be operated upon and a member' rotatable upon said f article-receiving means carried by the carrier for engagement with articles mounted uponthe article-sup` porting member and means operating as an incident to rotation of the carrier for im parting one 4step of a step-bystep rotation to the rotatable member each time the articles carried by said member are disengaged from said cutting tools. v

5; In combination, a carrier, a table rotat-` ing with the carrier, means for elevating andl lowering the table as the'carrier rotates, a work support mounted upon the table: and

including a member to receive articles to be 71.2151

operated` upon and a memberrotatable upon lsaid article-receiving member and having openings through which articles may be placed upon the'surface ofthe article-receiv i, ing memberrfO-tary' .Cuttlllg means carried; .t

`in and yieldable means carried by the carrier and engaging the articles prior to the engagement of saidv cutting tools therewith for disposing said articles in predetermined positions in the opening.

6. In combination, a plurality of sets of rotary cutting implements grouped about and rotatable about a common axis, work supports one for each set of cutting implements and each aligned with a set, said work supports being rotatable about said'axis, and held against rotation on their own axes, each set of cutting implements comprising different cutting implements, means for rotating the sets of cutting implements and their associated tables about said axis, means for 'rotating the cutting implements as the sets are rotated about said axis and means for shifting work positioned upon said tables upon the surface oli the tableas the table rotates about said axis to thereby successively present it to the cutting implements comprising the set associated therewith.

7. In combination, a set of rotary cutting tools and an opposed non-rotatable work tablc, means orbodily rotating the set and work table about an axis, means for causing the workztable to approach and recede from the cutting tools during rotation about said axis, said set of cutting tools comprising cutting tools of different characteristics and means operating as an incident to rotation of the work table about said axis for shifting work upon the work table to successively present it to said cutting tools.

8. In combination, a rotatable carrier having a flange, a spindle rotatably mounted inthe iange, means for rotating the carrier, means for rotating the spindle, a unit detachably secured to the under surface of the Harige, a plurality of rotatable cutting tools carried by said unit, means providing a driving connection between the spindle and the unit, a noii-rotatable work table opposing the unit and approaching and receding therefrom as the carrier rotates, said rota- -table cutting tools including groups of tools,

said groups being of different characteristics and the tools of each group being of the saine characteristics, and means associated with the work table and operating as an in rier rotates, a non-rotatable work` Support.

mounted upon the table and including a member to receive articles to be operated upon and a member rotatable upon said article-receiving member and having openings through which articles may be placed upon' the surface ofthe article-receiving member, rotary cutting means carried by the carrier for engagement with articles mounted upon the article-supporting member and means operating as an incident to rotation of the carrier for imparting a step-bystep rotation to the rotatable member While the articles carried by said member are disengaged from said cutting tools, said rotary cutting means including groups of tools of different characteristics, the rotation of the rotatable member shifting the articles through a distance equal to the distance between adjacent groups at each step.

JOHN WILSON BROWN, JR. 

